CFC-12 and SF₆ data were used in combination to estimate the mean age of water in the northern South China Sea (NSCS), to explore oceanographic processes related to “time,” including the transit time through the Luzon Strait (LS) with a three-layer circulation structure and the apparent oxygen utilization rates (AOUR). Significant differences in mean ages of water were observed at the same density level in the water columns on both sides of the LS, presented as a westward flow in the upper layer, eastward flow in the intermediate layer, and westward flow in the deep layer with transit times of 8 ± 5, 39 ± 22, and 20 ± 18 yr, respectively. The AOUR was estimated to be 8.4 μmol kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹ at about 100 m and decreased to approximately 0.66 μmol kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹ at 1,500 m in the NSCS. The average organic carbon flux in the depth range of 100–1,500 m was 1.7 mol C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in the NSCS and 1.3 mol C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in the western Pacific Ocean (WP). The activation energy—derived using the Arrhenius equation—in the NSCS and WP (87.7–154.2 kJ mol⁻¹) are close to those in the northern Pacific Ocean (60.8–133.5 kJ mol⁻¹). These results suggest a conspicuous correlation between temperature and AOUR. The impact of climate change on the ocean and the feedback mechanism between ocean warming and oxygen consumption needs further investigation.

中文翻译：

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使用氯氟烃和六氟化硫数据的南海北部航行时间分布和表观氧气利用率

结合使用 CFC-12 和 SF ₆数据来估计南海北部 (NSCS) 的平均水龄，探索与“时间”相关的海洋学过程，包括通过吕宋海峡 (LS) 的过境时间三层循环结构和表观氧利用率（AOUR）。LS 两侧相同密度水平的水体平均年龄存在显着差异，表现为上层西流、中层东流、深层西流。传输时间分别为 8 ± 5、39 ± 22 和 20 ± 18 年。在大约 100 m 处，AOUR 估计为 8.4 μmol kg ^-1  yr ^-1并降低到大约 0.66 μmol kg ^-1 yr ^-1在 NSCS 的 1,500 m 处。100-1,500 m 深度范围内的平均有机碳通量在 NSCS 中为 1.7 mol C m ^-2  yr ^-1，在西太平洋 (WP) 中为1.3 mol C m ^-2  yr ^-1。NSCS 和 WP 中的活化能（使用 Arrhenius 方程导出）（87.7-154.2 kJ mol ^-1）与北太平洋（60.8-133.5 kJ mol ^-1）接近。这些结果表明温度和 AOUR 之间存在显着的相关性。气候变化对海洋的影响以及海洋变暖与耗氧量之间的反馈机制有待进一步研究。